16 Ways I Use LinkedIN for Commercial Real Estate

Let’s start this off with a statement. This is how I use LinkedIn. It is not meant to be the all world all knowing checklist of how to use LinkedIN. If you have suggestions, links or thoughts please share them with us in the comments section.Thank You….there I feel better!

LinkedIn has at last check reached the 100,ooo,ooo user mark. Amazing.Let’s make another statement. It is without a doubt THE platform that the commercial real estate industry is the most comfortable with and utilizes the most. So what’s the big deal, what am I using it for? Well here ya go.

1. Develop Meaningful Business Connections.

–Where else can you get connected to anyone who is anyone in commercial real estate. Think of a market including your own. Who do you really need to meet and connect with? The number 1 reason I am on LinkedIN….is to LEARN from some of if not all of the best in commercial real estate in the entire world!

-I have communicated with talked to,emailed,messaged,DM’d,Skyped,Go to Meeting,side by side video conferenced,pod casted with commercial real estate people from London, Italy, India, Russia, Belgium, Dubai, Sweden, Hungary, Australia, etc. etc… not to mention just about every major market and then some in the US. I know blah blah blah. So what? Think back just 5 years ago…did you have access to all of that professional commercial real estate knowledge then!

-Ask a question any question about commercial real estate. The answer will come from…..probably the foremost expert on that subject in the world today. I have had conversations with people and resources that I would not only not had access to in the past but, and this is important, why in the hell would they take time to talk to little old me any way. Answer: They are not only willing and happy to share they are usually thrilled that someone wants to listen their point of view.

-Who are the movers and shakers in any given market. How about YOUR market? Oh yea I forgot they are such big hitters that they don’t even have time to be on LinkedIN. Oh and,you don’t really pay attention to any of your competitors or that market stuff. Bullshit. We all look and listen. It’s OK to deny it. Hell I do!

2. Networking.

-I am the poster child for LinkedIn networking. It is my number one resource. How do I do it?

-Groups.Join them. I said go join them. Go look at my profile list. It has every major commercial real estate group. Do a search to get even more specific.

-Most all of the major commercial real estate associations and companies have groups that you can join and most have direct connections to their management,recruiting,HR, websites and specific geographic contacts. Just connect and say HI! They will say HI! back…you need to work it from there.

-Focus. We all have tons of interests…that I won’t get into, but I only get on LinkedIn for Commercial Real Estate! It’s all about business.

-Connecting others.I cannot do enough of this I try to do this more than anything. Someone looking for a CRM solution and they ask if I have any thoughts. I drop everything and hook them up with every CRE CRM contact I have. It comes back in spades.

-Create your own group. I have created about 5. It has it’s fun and interesting moments. The emails and direct messages are priceless.

-Post interesting and valuable links,articles or info to the groups discussions. This is HUGE. The traffic,comments,interaction,profile views,conversation starters that this does for me is incalculable.Remember there only one reason to do this. To LEARN.Pitch,spam,hard sell, listing push,or just generally running your mouth and make a complete ass out of yourself will only piss people off and serve as quiet entertainment for me.

-BTW.I listen but, oh boy do I have an opinion and it’s does get me in trouble. It gets me BANNED and censored from groups. Not how you want to present or represent your company,brand or yourself? I completely understand. Maybe I need to push harder…have not been banned lately…but that’s just me…it’s called PASSION.

Real Commercial Real Estate Business.

Linkedin to this point has provided a invaluable FREE way to connect,interact, comment,opine,and more importantly Listen and Learn. Could I be utilizing the tools on LinkedIn a little bit better? Sure,it is said that most only utilize 5-10% of them at all. Underrated,underused and still AMAZING for commercial real estate.Your Thoughts?

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